Group Dynamics in Inquiry-based Labs: Gender Inequities and the Efficacy of Partner Agreements

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Dew, Matthew, Hunt, Emma, Perera, Viranga, Perry, Jonathan, Ponti, Gregorio, Loveridge, Andrew
Format: Preprint
Published: 2023
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_version_ 1866929206245457920
author Dew, Matthew
Hunt, Emma
Perera, Viranga
Perry, Jonathan
Ponti, Gregorio
Loveridge, Andrew
author_facet Dew, Matthew
Hunt, Emma
Perera, Viranga
Perry, Jonathan
Ponti, Gregorio
Loveridge, Andrew
contents Recent studies provide evidence that social constructivist pedagogical methods such as active learning, interactive engagement, and inquiry-based learning, while pedagogically more effective, can enable inequities in the classroom. By conducting a quantitative empirical examination of gender-inequitable group dynamics in two inquiry-based physics labs, we extend results of previous work. Using a survey on group work preferences and video recordings of lab sessions, we find similar patterns of gendered role-taking noted in prior studies. These results are not reducible to differences in students' preferences. We find that an intervention which employed partner agreement forms, with the goal of reducing inequities, had a positive impact on students' engagement with equipment during a first-semester lab course. Our work will inform implementation of more effective interventions in the future and emphasizes challenges faced by instructors who are dedicated to both research-based pedagogical practices and efforts to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in their classrooms.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2305_00609
institution arXiv
publishDate 2023
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Group Dynamics in Inquiry-based Labs: Gender Inequities and the Efficacy of Partner Agreements
Dew, Matthew
Hunt, Emma
Perera, Viranga
Perry, Jonathan
Ponti, Gregorio
Loveridge, Andrew
Physics Education
Recent studies provide evidence that social constructivist pedagogical methods such as active learning, interactive engagement, and inquiry-based learning, while pedagogically more effective, can enable inequities in the classroom. By conducting a quantitative empirical examination of gender-inequitable group dynamics in two inquiry-based physics labs, we extend results of previous work. Using a survey on group work preferences and video recordings of lab sessions, we find similar patterns of gendered role-taking noted in prior studies. These results are not reducible to differences in students' preferences. We find that an intervention which employed partner agreement forms, with the goal of reducing inequities, had a positive impact on students' engagement with equipment during a first-semester lab course. Our work will inform implementation of more effective interventions in the future and emphasizes challenges faced by instructors who are dedicated to both research-based pedagogical practices and efforts to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in their classrooms.
title Group Dynamics in Inquiry-based Labs: Gender Inequities and the Efficacy of Partner Agreements
topic Physics Education
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2305.00609